Don’t just jump in there and sharpen business as normal or you will
be in big trouble. You can recognize these new Ocean Shears by the icy pale
blue screw with our fish logo on it. These blades are so different that received
directions from the factory on sharpening. I plan to have videos addressing the
sharpening issue on these shears and will have some type of criteria for
sharpeners, regardless of their sharpening style, to present to stylists to
show they are knowledgeable about these edges. We hope stylists will also be
aware that their shears are different. Please subscribe to the Bonika Shears
Youtube channel so you will see these videos when they come out.

Of the 5 new shears in the Ocean line, there are three
styles each with a different set of sharpening approaches.

The regular Bonika Ocean cutting shear appear normal enough
with a modified sword edge front blade and a convex back. However, these shears
are designed to slide cut easily through wet or dry hair in the back and
crisply point cut without pushing in the front area. The front blade should be convex
sharpened to a 55 or 57 degree angle and the back blade only the last 1 inch or
so is sharpened to this angle. The back half section near the pivot is blunt
and polished smoothly and only the front half sharpened. The rideline is
perfectly flat. For best results the blunt section should be polished with a
felt wheel. The hair is designed to slide over this blunt section to make slide
cutting with the one sharp edge easier and less destructive to the cuticle.

The short Ocean Curve has the same configuration of the half
blunt back blade. This is great for slide cutting and slithering. The back
blade with the blunt section transitions to a 57degree angle by the time it
reaches the tip. The front blade is 55 degrees. I would suggest the rideline
would be repaired with the archhone stone for best results. It was designed
flat in the factory before it was curved.

These two “Ocean WAVE” texturizers are some of the “no-line”
type texturizers. They are blunt on the straight back blade. Actually it is a
10 degree angle. The front blade, (the teeth side or comb side) is convexed at
a 55 - 57 degree angle. The ride is perfectly flat, not ramped as in some
texturizers.

Other questions you may have when sharpening might be.

Will it void the
warranty if an “unauthorized” sharpener sharpens these shears? No, ANY
Bonika shear can be sharpened by any sharpener without voiding the warranty.

Can the alignment be
adjusted on these shears? Yes and no. These shears are tappan forged 440C
with added cobalt making them harder than normal 440C. The handles in most
cases would be safe to tweak, however…. The Bonika Ocean shears as ALL the
Bonika shears are not to be adjusted without prior authorization. If you have
any Bonika Shear that you feel needs adjusting, call first. If we authorize you
to adjust the setting or handles and the shear breaks, we will replace it for
the customer. If you do not call us, the risk is on you. Some Bonika shears we
know from experience can be easily tweaked and others can’t. We have had a few
discontinued models that have an alignment issue after a few years and if it is
one of those models we will replace it with a new shear.

Who will be selling
these shears? These shears will be primarily for the beauty industry sold
through sharpeners and direct by us. However, other companies like Sam Villa,
Sensei etc may have similar shears so be on the look-out for these.

Does it matter what
equipment I use to sharpen these? The factory has made it clear these were made
and sharpened on a flat hone type system and with a Waterstone for the ride. I
am only accomplished in this method of sharpening, myself, but use what you
have.

If I am not
comfortable sharpening these shears can I send them to you? We sharpen for
other sharpeners at a wholesale price plus shipping. If you have begun to
sharpen them we will critique your work and give you suggestions for the
future. Anytime you have a shear that you rather not sharpen or cannot sharpen
feel free to send them to us. We ourselves when we can a major issue with our
Shoto shears send them back to the original factory. We are all on this journey
of better and better sharpening together.

]]>Please note sharpeners, the Bonika Shears Ocean line are a bit tricky
to sharpen.

Don’t just jump in there and sharpen business as normal or you will
be in big trouble. You can recognize these new Ocean Shears by the icy pale
blue screw with our fish logo on it. These blades are so different that received
directions from the factory on sharpening. I plan to have videos addressing the
sharpening issue on these shears and will have some type of criteria for
sharpeners, regardless of their sharpening style, to present to stylists to
show they are knowledgeable about these edges. We hope stylists will also be
aware that their shears are different. Please subscribe to the Bonika Shears
Youtube channel so you will see these videos when they come out.

Of the 5 new shears in the Ocean line, there are three
styles each with a different set of sharpening approaches.

The regular Bonika Ocean cutting shear appear normal enough
with a modified sword edge front blade and a convex back. However, these shears
are designed to slide cut easily through wet or dry hair in the back and
crisply point cut without pushing in the front area. The front blade should be convex
sharpened to a 55 or 57 degree angle and the back blade only the last 1 inch or
so is sharpened to this angle. The back half section near the pivot is blunt
and polished smoothly and only the front half sharpened. The rideline is
perfectly flat. For best results the blunt section should be polished with a
felt wheel. The hair is designed to slide over this blunt section to make slide
cutting with the one sharp edge easier and less destructive to the cuticle.

The short Ocean Curve has the same configuration of the half
blunt back blade. This is great for slide cutting and slithering. The back
blade with the blunt section transitions to a 57degree angle by the time it
reaches the tip. The front blade is 55 degrees. I would suggest the rideline
would be repaired with the archhone stone for best results. It was designed
flat in the factory before it was curved.

These two “Ocean WAVE” texturizers are some of the “no-line”
type texturizers. They are blunt on the straight back blade. Actually it is a
10 degree angle. The front blade, (the teeth side or comb side) is convexed at
a 55 - 57 degree angle. The ride is perfectly flat, not ramped as in some
texturizers.

Other questions you may have when sharpening might be.

Will it void the
warranty if an “unauthorized” sharpener sharpens these shears? No, ANY
Bonika shear can be sharpened by any sharpener without voiding the warranty.

Can the alignment be
adjusted on these shears? Yes and no. These shears are tappan forged 440C
with added cobalt making them harder than normal 440C. The handles in most
cases would be safe to tweak, however…. The Bonika Ocean shears as ALL the
Bonika shears are not to be adjusted without prior authorization. If you have
any Bonika Shear that you feel needs adjusting, call first. If we authorize you
to adjust the setting or handles and the shear breaks, we will replace it for
the customer. If you do not call us, the risk is on you. Some Bonika shears we
know from experience can be easily tweaked and others can’t. We have had a few
discontinued models that have an alignment issue after a few years and if it is
one of those models we will replace it with a new shear.

Who will be selling
these shears? These shears will be primarily for the beauty industry sold
through sharpeners and direct by us. However, other companies like Sam Villa,
Sensei etc may have similar shears so be on the look-out for these.

Does it matter what
equipment I use to sharpen these? The factory has made it clear these were made
and sharpened on a flat hone type system and with a Waterstone for the ride. I
am only accomplished in this method of sharpening, myself, but use what you
have.

If I am not
comfortable sharpening these shears can I send them to you? We sharpen for
other sharpeners at a wholesale price plus shipping. If you have begun to
sharpen them we will critique your work and give you suggestions for the
future. Anytime you have a shear that you rather not sharpen or cannot sharpen
feel free to send them to us. We ourselves when we can a major issue with our
Shoto shears send them back to the original factory. We are all on this journey
of better and better sharpening together.

]]>http://www.bonika.com/blog/national-beauty-tool-sharpeners-guild-nbtsg-resignation-letter/
Thu, 28 Jun 2018 12:08:48 +0000http://www.bonika.com/blog/national-beauty-tool-sharpeners-guild-nbtsg-resignation-letter/To All Members of the National Beauty Tool Sharpeners Guild,
Guild Board Members, Board Chairman Jesse Hockett and the Sharpening Community
at Large,

Today, it is with deep regret and disenchantment I immediately
resign as the President of the National Beauty Tool Sharpeners Guild. I also
resign as committee chairperson, committee member, and as the only female
member on the board of directors. I was
elected by the guild members to represent them and I feel I can no longer do
that for a number of the following reasons.

In 2009 Larry Brooks of Sharp Edges, my competitor in the
business started the National Beauty Tool Sharpeners Guild. Bonika Shears
attended the conventions from the beginning but as a company were never real
firm supporters. I personally at the time did not see the need for
certifications but felt that a platform for education was important for all
sharpeners. It was with great surprise that in 2012 Larry and Linda contacted
my family to continue their vision. Reluctantly we took the organization on but
as time went by I became a true believer in the purpose of the Sharpeners
Guild. We designed a new logo, built a
credible website and produced new banners and brochures. I now understood the
need for the certification process and the critical necessity that the
certification be fair and without gender or equipment bias. My family, primarily Mystie Hunter,
successfully ran the conventions in 2012 and 2013 with some of the highest
attendance ever. After the fall of the NSSG (National Scissor Sharpeners Guild
- another sharpening convention) due to ownership by one individual I saw the
need for the NBTSG to belong to all the sharpeners, not just my family. We
turned the organization into a nonprofit at that time with ownership by the
sharpeners. Myself, Dennis Brooks and Jesse Hockett were the principal
directors. In due time, due to Jesse’s work overseas with the National Guard he
was unable to perform his duties, Dennis and I pretty much accomplished all the
work of running the convention with input of the various sharpeners. I was
elected President each year although I offered my position with alacrity to
anyone who wanted it. I also certified in sharpening in 2015 becoming the first
female master sharpener in the NBTSG history and the only woman to achieve the
highest score in shear sharpening. I participated in the blade sharpening
certification this year in April (I am new at blade sharpening) with a score
that would be equivalent to a Master level.

Today, the efficiency of the board of directors has
progressed due to the leadership of the chairman Jesse Hockett. I pushed for
him to be chairman since he was so instrumental in the early days after I gave
up ownership of the NBTSG and felt that this time he would follow his efforts to
completion which he has done so far. One of the main areas where I have
disagreed with him, repeatedly and repeatedly is the insistence that the board
meetings be held at 9PM at night. There are several reasons this was not good for me in the past but now with
changes in my life it is impossible. I now am the caretaker of elderly
relatives who are on hospice and from 9 to 10 at night I must follow a routine
of duties that preclude me from participating in the board meetings. I pay a
caretaker to come during the day when I am free to work and discuss board
matters but can not do this at 9 pm.

There was a formal grievance issue brought up against me by Jesse Hockett and presented to
me by the vice President Lou Gean in regards to a conflict of interest they
felt I had with the International Scissor Sharpeners Association (an
organization begun by a sharpener in Cyprus long before the NBTSG was
established). I was unable to learn exactly what policy I violated or answer
the charges because I was not given sufficient notice of the meeting and they
held the meeting at 9PM. I explained this was not a time I could meet and
begged that for humanitarian reasons they hold the meeting at another time. The
board refused to change the time. In violation of policy, no one attempted to
resolve the matter before a formal grievance was issued. My willingness to
cooperate is evidenced that at this time that the ISSA is no longer on my
website. Since the entire guild elected
me and not the board, I feel that I should be given the right to speak for
myself to the board. It was the entire guild who put me in office and it seems unjust that just a few individuals
should be given the power to force me out of office without due process. Article VII of our bylaws shows how an officer
should be removed, they have not followed this. Furthermore, It was not fair to
Lou Gean to be selected to discuss this with me. He was in attendance at the
Sharpeners Jam where I was talking about the NBTSG and the ISSA. I was handing
out damaged shears for those ISSA sharpeners to show their sharpening abilities
in order to be approved to have another company set sharpening appointments for
them. Lou, nor none of the other board
members present at the Jam voiced any objections as to a conflict of interest
and Lou even offered to damage the shears for me. Lou seemed personally
distressed to call me about this and was my first notification that there was
any issue with a conflict of interest. When I step down as president he will
become the new president. This puts him in a awkward position which is unfair
to him. Please do not hold any ill will toward your new president or any
individuals on the board. I respect all of them as professionals and fine
sharpeners.

Nevertheless, I asked over and over that the meeting for my
grievance be postponed while I was dealing with a family crisis. The family
crisis has accelerated since Friday when my brother-in-law Harry, a member of
the guild had a ruptured aorta while visiting us here in Atlanta. He is in
severe critical condition. For some reason they would not postpone the board
meeting to vote on the grievance. It was unanimous that the grievance had
merit, but I was not told who was in attendance when I asked.

I feel the need not to postpone the writing of this letter
of resignation today in spite of the family issues that have taken me from work.
There are even more new policies that has been put forth by the chairman of the
board. Board members have been given until June 30th to sign an
agreement after agreement on new policies declaring ALL our business interests
and affiliations plus an agreement not to disclose anything discussed in board
meetings. If I sign this agreement, I can’t keep the guild members aware of
what is going on. If the board is doing
something that I feel violates the spirit of the NBTSG to advance the art of
sharpening, you would not want me muzzled.

I do not want to be a source of discord among sharpeners.
Sharing of ideas freely has always been of great importance to me. That is why
I started the Sharpeners Jam 21 years ago. The goal of the NBTSG is stated to
be “a positive and respected influence within the sharpening community.” As
such, I have agreed to be an educator at the convention in Nashville with a
basic shear sharpening class and a guild center presentation on pivot screws.
My company, Bonika Shears not only will be a vendor but we are GOLD LEVEL
sponsors of the guild. I encourage all of you to come to the convention this
year. Mystie Hunter my daughter and partner in Bonika Shears personally
selected and contracted with this hotel after the convention last year voted to
move the convention to Nashville. At this time, myself and Bonika Shears will
continue to support the mission and vision of the Sharpeners Guild. At this time it has been made impossible for
me to continue as president, board member or committee member because of the
above reasons. Please support Lou Gean the new president and empower him to
move the Sharpeners Guild in the direction best for all the sharpeners and the
industry.

Bonnie Megowan

]]>To All Members of the National Beauty Tool Sharpeners Guild,
Guild Board Members, Board Chairman Jesse Hockett and the Sharpening Community
at Large,

Today, it is with deep regret and disenchantment I immediately
resign as the President of the National Beauty Tool Sharpeners Guild. I also
resign as committee chairperson, committee member, and as the only female
member on the board of directors. I was
elected by the guild members to represent them and I feel I can no longer do
that for a number of the following reasons.

In 2009 Larry Brooks of Sharp Edges, my competitor in the
business started the National Beauty Tool Sharpeners Guild. Bonika Shears
attended the conventions from the beginning but as a company were never real
firm supporters. I personally at the time did not see the need for
certifications but felt that a platform for education was important for all
sharpeners. It was with great surprise that in 2012 Larry and Linda contacted
my family to continue their vision. Reluctantly we took the organization on but
as time went by I became a true believer in the purpose of the Sharpeners
Guild. We designed a new logo, built a
credible website and produced new banners and brochures. I now understood the
need for the certification process and the critical necessity that the
certification be fair and without gender or equipment bias. My family, primarily Mystie Hunter,
successfully ran the conventions in 2012 and 2013 with some of the highest
attendance ever. After the fall of the NSSG (National Scissor Sharpeners Guild
- another sharpening convention) due to ownership by one individual I saw the
need for the NBTSG to belong to all the sharpeners, not just my family. We
turned the organization into a nonprofit at that time with ownership by the
sharpeners. Myself, Dennis Brooks and Jesse Hockett were the principal
directors. In due time, due to Jesse’s work overseas with the National Guard he
was unable to perform his duties, Dennis and I pretty much accomplished all the
work of running the convention with input of the various sharpeners. I was
elected President each year although I offered my position with alacrity to
anyone who wanted it. I also certified in sharpening in 2015 becoming the first
female master sharpener in the NBTSG history and the only woman to achieve the
highest score in shear sharpening. I participated in the blade sharpening
certification this year in April (I am new at blade sharpening) with a score
that would be equivalent to a Master level.

Today, the efficiency of the board of directors has
progressed due to the leadership of the chairman Jesse Hockett. I pushed for
him to be chairman since he was so instrumental in the early days after I gave
up ownership of the NBTSG and felt that this time he would follow his efforts to
completion which he has done so far. One of the main areas where I have
disagreed with him, repeatedly and repeatedly is the insistence that the board
meetings be held at 9PM at night. There are several reasons this was not good for me in the past but now with
changes in my life it is impossible. I now am the caretaker of elderly
relatives who are on hospice and from 9 to 10 at night I must follow a routine
of duties that preclude me from participating in the board meetings. I pay a
caretaker to come during the day when I am free to work and discuss board
matters but can not do this at 9 pm.

There was a formal grievance issue brought up against me by Jesse Hockett and presented to
me by the vice President Lou Gean in regards to a conflict of interest they
felt I had with the International Scissor Sharpeners Association (an
organization begun by a sharpener in Cyprus long before the NBTSG was
established). I was unable to learn exactly what policy I violated or answer
the charges because I was not given sufficient notice of the meeting and they
held the meeting at 9PM. I explained this was not a time I could meet and
begged that for humanitarian reasons they hold the meeting at another time. The
board refused to change the time. In violation of policy, no one attempted to
resolve the matter before a formal grievance was issued. My willingness to
cooperate is evidenced that at this time that the ISSA is no longer on my
website. Since the entire guild elected
me and not the board, I feel that I should be given the right to speak for
myself to the board. It was the entire guild who put me in office and it seems unjust that just a few individuals
should be given the power to force me out of office without due process. Article VII of our bylaws shows how an officer
should be removed, they have not followed this. Furthermore, It was not fair to
Lou Gean to be selected to discuss this with me. He was in attendance at the
Sharpeners Jam where I was talking about the NBTSG and the ISSA. I was handing
out damaged shears for those ISSA sharpeners to show their sharpening abilities
in order to be approved to have another company set sharpening appointments for
them. Lou, nor none of the other board
members present at the Jam voiced any objections as to a conflict of interest
and Lou even offered to damage the shears for me. Lou seemed personally
distressed to call me about this and was my first notification that there was
any issue with a conflict of interest. When I step down as president he will
become the new president. This puts him in a awkward position which is unfair
to him. Please do not hold any ill will toward your new president or any
individuals on the board. I respect all of them as professionals and fine
sharpeners.

Nevertheless, I asked over and over that the meeting for my
grievance be postponed while I was dealing with a family crisis. The family
crisis has accelerated since Friday when my brother-in-law Harry, a member of
the guild had a ruptured aorta while visiting us here in Atlanta. He is in
severe critical condition. For some reason they would not postpone the board
meeting to vote on the grievance. It was unanimous that the grievance had
merit, but I was not told who was in attendance when I asked.

I feel the need not to postpone the writing of this letter
of resignation today in spite of the family issues that have taken me from work.
There are even more new policies that has been put forth by the chairman of the
board. Board members have been given until June 30th to sign an
agreement after agreement on new policies declaring ALL our business interests
and affiliations plus an agreement not to disclose anything discussed in board
meetings. If I sign this agreement, I can’t keep the guild members aware of
what is going on. If the board is doing
something that I feel violates the spirit of the NBTSG to advance the art of
sharpening, you would not want me muzzled.

I do not want to be a source of discord among sharpeners.
Sharing of ideas freely has always been of great importance to me. That is why
I started the Sharpeners Jam 21 years ago. The goal of the NBTSG is stated to
be “a positive and respected influence within the sharpening community.” As
such, I have agreed to be an educator at the convention in Nashville with a
basic shear sharpening class and a guild center presentation on pivot screws.
My company, Bonika Shears not only will be a vendor but we are GOLD LEVEL
sponsors of the guild. I encourage all of you to come to the convention this
year. Mystie Hunter my daughter and partner in Bonika Shears personally
selected and contracted with this hotel after the convention last year voted to
move the convention to Nashville. At this time, myself and Bonika Shears will
continue to support the mission and vision of the Sharpeners Guild. At this time it has been made impossible for
me to continue as president, board member or committee member because of the
above reasons. Please support Lou Gean the new president and empower him to
move the Sharpeners Guild in the direction best for all the sharpeners and the
industry.

Bonnie Megowan

]]>http://www.bonika.com/blog/how-to-care-for-your-beauty-shears-use-the-spa-treatment/
Fri, 11 May 2018 16:08:58 +0000http://www.bonika.com/blog/how-to-care-for-your-beauty-shears-use-the-spa-treatment/If you have a pair of hard working shears they are as
important to you as any employee at a business. So, to pamper and care for your
shears you should treat them to the “spa” every day. That means you Store them correctly, you Protect them from rust and you
should be sure they are correctly Adjusted.

Storage for your shears is a necessity and a personal selection
on the part of the stylist. The place and container you store your shears in
should achieve the three following needs.

Shears should be safe from falling, being picked
up by others and from hitting on things that might nick them. Throwing shears
in a drawer may keep them safe from others picking them up but they can get
nicked hitting combs and clips and other items in the drawer.

Shears should be able to breathe. If they are slightly
damp and put in an air tight container it can feel like a sauna instead of a
spa and can cause the metal to rust.

Most state boards require that the shears be
places in a covered container that can be kept clean of hair and debris.

So,
with these guidelines on storage there is no perfect container. The best
solution for now is a plastic pencil box when left at your station or a nice
leather or cloth lined case for transporting.

Preventing
rust involves two processes. First the shears need to be clean and second, they
should be oiled. Cleaning the shears work best with a chamois or a microfiber
cloth. Isopropyl alcohol 70% or higher will kill most microbes and is better on
the steel than barbicide or spray disinfectants. Always wipe the shears with
the spine down toward the cloth to prevent cutting yourself.

H42
which is an oil-based disinfectant works fine as well and performs the second function
of oiling your shears as well. Since metal is rubbing against metal the pivot
area where the blades rubbed should be oiled daily. Camellia Oil also called Tea Seed shear oil mixed with silicone is a
favorite tool lubricate used by Samurai in Japan for preventing corrosion on
their swords. These are available in tube form with a brush to wipe away
hair as Sumo Oil. But surprisingly enough, a high-quality lip balm such
as Burt’s Bees works very well to oil and wax your blades as well.

The
last step before putting your shears away for the night is to check the
adjustment of the pivot screw. It should neither be too loose or too tight. If
it has loosened up during the day slightly tighten the screw, usually one
click, to readjust the pivot. There are several Youtube videos that show you
the correct adjustment of the screw. The blades should move freely but not slam
closed. If a shear folds hair rather than cutting this is usually a sign the
pivot screw needs to be tightened.

After
giving your shears the SPA treatment at the end of each day, once or twice a
year they should take a vacation to truly become rejuvenated. By this I mean
the shears should be sent off for sharpening. If you have a local sharpener who
is trained and equipped to care for your shears you can have them come to your
salon and service your shears. Sharpeners can either extend the life of your
shears or shorten their life. Pick your sharpener carefully because one bad
sharpening can totally ruin a pair of shears.

All
this information in more detail is in video form at Youtube at

]]>If you have a pair of hard working shears they are as
important to you as any employee at a business. So, to pamper and care for your
shears you should treat them to the “spa” every day. That means you Store them correctly, you Protect them from rust and you
should be sure they are correctly Adjusted.

Storage for your shears is a necessity and a personal selection
on the part of the stylist. The place and container you store your shears in
should achieve the three following needs.

Shears should be safe from falling, being picked
up by others and from hitting on things that might nick them. Throwing shears
in a drawer may keep them safe from others picking them up but they can get
nicked hitting combs and clips and other items in the drawer.

Shears should be able to breathe. If they are slightly
damp and put in an air tight container it can feel like a sauna instead of a
spa and can cause the metal to rust.

Most state boards require that the shears be
places in a covered container that can be kept clean of hair and debris.

So,
with these guidelines on storage there is no perfect container. The best
solution for now is a plastic pencil box when left at your station or a nice
leather or cloth lined case for transporting.

Preventing
rust involves two processes. First the shears need to be clean and second, they
should be oiled. Cleaning the shears work best with a chamois or a microfiber
cloth. Isopropyl alcohol 70% or higher will kill most microbes and is better on
the steel than barbicide or spray disinfectants. Always wipe the shears with
the spine down toward the cloth to prevent cutting yourself.

H42
which is an oil-based disinfectant works fine as well and performs the second function
of oiling your shears as well. Since metal is rubbing against metal the pivot
area where the blades rubbed should be oiled daily. Camellia Oil also called Tea Seed shear oil mixed with silicone is a
favorite tool lubricate used by Samurai in Japan for preventing corrosion on
their swords. These are available in tube form with a brush to wipe away
hair as Sumo Oil. But surprisingly enough, a high-quality lip balm such
as Burt’s Bees works very well to oil and wax your blades as well.

The
last step before putting your shears away for the night is to check the
adjustment of the pivot screw. It should neither be too loose or too tight. If
it has loosened up during the day slightly tighten the screw, usually one
click, to readjust the pivot. There are several Youtube videos that show you
the correct adjustment of the screw. The blades should move freely but not slam
closed. If a shear folds hair rather than cutting this is usually a sign the
pivot screw needs to be tightened.

After
giving your shears the SPA treatment at the end of each day, once or twice a
year they should take a vacation to truly become rejuvenated. By this I mean
the shears should be sent off for sharpening. If you have a local sharpener who
is trained and equipped to care for your shears you can have them come to your
salon and service your shears. Sharpeners can either extend the life of your
shears or shorten their life. Pick your sharpener carefully because one bad
sharpening can totally ruin a pair of shears.

All
this information in more detail is in video form at Youtube at

]]>http://www.bonika.com/blog/jim-turners-creative-winning-ideas-at-the-sharpeners-jam-2018-best-ideas-contest/
Wed, 18 Apr 2018 15:25:25 +0000http://www.bonika.com/blog/jim-turners-creative-winning-ideas-at-the-sharpeners-jam-2018-best-ideas-contest/The Sharpener’s Jam winning idea came from Jim Turner of
Gaffney, SC. Jim always knows how to repurpose one item for another with his
creative turn of “Git’R Done” attitude. When you don’t have a bumper to fit a
shear, whether it is a pull through or screw on, Jim discovered a colorful
solution. Jim purchases the bag of watercolor paint brushes for children from
WalMart and puts the tapered handles into the hole for the bumper. The tapered
ends will fit any of the scissors. He uses a little super glue, cuts off the
excess length to the right height between the handles and melts the protruding
back section to keep the new bumper in place. Only Jim Turner would look at
paint brushes and see a bumper. Several years ago he suggested using weed-eater
plastic string to make bumpers especially on shears like the older Yasaka that
don’t have a pull through. I’ve kept several rolls of different size weed-eater
string on the shelf just in case. Now that will be joined by a colorful bag of
paint brushes. Thanks for the tip!

Jim also had a second idea which was not the one he put for
the best idea vote but I personally thought it was the best idea of the day.
This was a trick he said he had been using for over 15 years. Why did you wait
so long to share it Jim?

Jim sharpens a lot of groomer scissors and poodle groomers
often are very particular about the tip of the shears whether they can cut that
fine poodle hair. Jim keeps cotton balls in his sharpening area to test the tip
of the scissors to see if they pull hair. The fine cotton hairs of the cotton
ball simulate the fine hair on a poodle. I want to test this for other cutting
applications to see if this works well on beauty shears. Often a shear that has
been sharpened will pass a wet tissue test but can continue to pull fine hair
at the tip. This may be just the trick to catch those problems before the
stylists do. That’s one more thing that will join my mobile sharpening bag.

]]>The Sharpener’s Jam winning idea came from Jim Turner of
Gaffney, SC. Jim always knows how to repurpose one item for another with his
creative turn of “Git’R Done” attitude. When you don’t have a bumper to fit a
shear, whether it is a pull through or screw on, Jim discovered a colorful
solution. Jim purchases the bag of watercolor paint brushes for children from
WalMart and puts the tapered handles into the hole for the bumper. The tapered
ends will fit any of the scissors. He uses a little super glue, cuts off the
excess length to the right height between the handles and melts the protruding
back section to keep the new bumper in place. Only Jim Turner would look at
paint brushes and see a bumper. Several years ago he suggested using weed-eater
plastic string to make bumpers especially on shears like the older Yasaka that
don’t have a pull through. I’ve kept several rolls of different size weed-eater
string on the shelf just in case. Now that will be joined by a colorful bag of
paint brushes. Thanks for the tip!

Jim also had a second idea which was not the one he put for
the best idea vote but I personally thought it was the best idea of the day.
This was a trick he said he had been using for over 15 years. Why did you wait
so long to share it Jim?

Jim sharpens a lot of groomer scissors and poodle groomers
often are very particular about the tip of the shears whether they can cut that
fine poodle hair. Jim keeps cotton balls in his sharpening area to test the tip
of the scissors to see if they pull hair. The fine cotton hairs of the cotton
ball simulate the fine hair on a poodle. I want to test this for other cutting
applications to see if this works well on beauty shears. Often a shear that has
been sharpened will pass a wet tissue test but can continue to pull fine hair
at the tip. This may be just the trick to catch those problems before the
stylists do. That’s one more thing that will join my mobile sharpening bag.

]]>http://www.bonika.com/blog/hard-rubber-comb-history-and-prestos-involvement/
Thu, 12 Apr 2018 13:04:23 +0000http://www.bonika.com/blog/hard-rubber-comb-history-and-prestos-involvement/Hard Rubber combs have been in production since 1800s. Ebonite was initially developed by the automobile tire industry.

Hard Rubber combs have 3 primary properties that make it a viable product:

1) Resistant to heat up to 450%

2) Will not degenerate in barbicide solutions

3) Seamless - will not catch and break hair

For almost a hundred years, there were only 3 companies that produced Hard Rubber Combs: New-York Hamburg of Hamburg, Germany which is still in production, Sempirit of Austria which was purchased by NYH in late 90s and Goody Products (owned by Newell-Rubbermaid). Goody produced them in Arkansas under ACE until they shut down the plant in late 90s. In 1999, Goody sold 11 million Hard Rubber combs and Ace share of the market had fallen from 5.6% to 2.9%, but the numbers were still strong. Ace combs were an American icon among barbers.

Presto Industries' foray into Hard Rubber combs:

Although Presto Industries has been in the family since late 1800s, they started the comb business by producing the cellulose acetate combs in 60s (www.TheSpaComb.com) after purchasing the tools from a German factory. In late 90s, Presto was working with Goody Products who then owned the Ace production and distribution. When Goody was purchased by Newell, they wanted to close down their Ace production facility in Arkansas. Presto offered to purchase their tools and technology to produce exclusively for them. They declined. 20 years later, Ace combs have gone from a market share of almost 70% among hairdressers in the 90s to a very small market.

About the same time, Sempirit wanted to close down their Hard Rubber comb business - their primary business was with items related to rubber tires. They sold their distribution to NYH of Germany.

It has taken Presto almost 20 years to develop the product right. They now produce them under their own Pegasus brand. It is a capricious process. Today, along with NYH, Presto Industries is the only company that produces the genuine Hard Rubber Combs. Helen of Troy, the world's largest distributor of Beauty Products, retails 2 models for $ 9.99 that they label as Hard Rubber Combs but have a disclaimer in the back that they are produced from a thermoplastic process. Other manufacturers have labeled their comb as "Better than Hard Rubber". Carbon combs have some of the properties and are very popular because they cost much less to produce as most of them contain less than 30% carbon. Genuine Hard Rubber combs can be produced only via vulcanization to contain the properties. It is Presto's goal to develop the Pegasus market for Hard Rubber that Ace had in its hay days.

Hard Rubber combs can handle a temperature of up to 230 C (446 F). But what makes the Pegasus comb unique is that it is produced from Flexinite technology, which is an intelligent material - when the hair is exposed to high temperatures, the comb will soften to adapt to the hair in order to avoid damage or breakage to the cuticle. Once the hair cools down, so will the comb and it will become return to its initial hardness.

]]>Hard Rubber combs have been in production since 1800s. Ebonite was initially developed by the automobile tire industry.

Hard Rubber combs have 3 primary properties that make it a viable product:

1) Resistant to heat up to 450%

2) Will not degenerate in barbicide solutions

3) Seamless - will not catch and break hair

For almost a hundred years, there were only 3 companies that produced Hard Rubber Combs: New-York Hamburg of Hamburg, Germany which is still in production, Sempirit of Austria which was purchased by NYH in late 90s and Goody Products (owned by Newell-Rubbermaid). Goody produced them in Arkansas under ACE until they shut down the plant in late 90s. In 1999, Goody sold 11 million Hard Rubber combs and Ace share of the market had fallen from 5.6% to 2.9%, but the numbers were still strong. Ace combs were an American icon among barbers.

Presto Industries' foray into Hard Rubber combs:

Although Presto Industries has been in the family since late 1800s, they started the comb business by producing the cellulose acetate combs in 60s (www.TheSpaComb.com) after purchasing the tools from a German factory. In late 90s, Presto was working with Goody Products who then owned the Ace production and distribution. When Goody was purchased by Newell, they wanted to close down their Ace production facility in Arkansas. Presto offered to purchase their tools and technology to produce exclusively for them. They declined. 20 years later, Ace combs have gone from a market share of almost 70% among hairdressers in the 90s to a very small market.

About the same time, Sempirit wanted to close down their Hard Rubber comb business - their primary business was with items related to rubber tires. They sold their distribution to NYH of Germany.

It has taken Presto almost 20 years to develop the product right. They now produce them under their own Pegasus brand. It is a capricious process. Today, along with NYH, Presto Industries is the only company that produces the genuine Hard Rubber Combs. Helen of Troy, the world's largest distributor of Beauty Products, retails 2 models for $ 9.99 that they label as Hard Rubber Combs but have a disclaimer in the back that they are produced from a thermoplastic process. Other manufacturers have labeled their comb as "Better than Hard Rubber". Carbon combs have some of the properties and are very popular because they cost much less to produce as most of them contain less than 30% carbon. Genuine Hard Rubber combs can be produced only via vulcanization to contain the properties. It is Presto's goal to develop the Pegasus market for Hard Rubber that Ace had in its hay days.

Hard Rubber combs can handle a temperature of up to 230 C (446 F). But what makes the Pegasus comb unique is that it is produced from Flexinite technology, which is an intelligent material - when the hair is exposed to high temperatures, the comb will soften to adapt to the hair in order to avoid damage or breakage to the cuticle. Once the hair cools down, so will the comb and it will become return to its initial hardness.

]]>http://www.bonika.com/blog/shear-sharpener-or-shear-salesman-who-would-you-trust-most/
Mon, 19 Feb 2018 16:47:49 +0000http://www.bonika.com/blog/shear-sharpener-or-shear-salesman-who-would-you-trust-most/Most stylist indicate that they would trust a distributor of shears who also sharpens rather than a sharpener who also sells shears. It seems in their world that a shear distributor who has been trained by the manufacturer would be better equipped to sharpen their shears than those who are not a distributor. Also, stylists tell us that they would rather buy a shear from someone who can service that line of shears, especially if they are an authorized sharpener than to buy a shear that they would have to send off for service or warranty work.

Sharpeners who have tried introducing themselves as shear distributors who also sharpen get more sharpening business on the first call than those who go into a salon cold as a sharpener only. One sharpener at the Sharpeners Jam a number of years ago shared his positive experience of calling on salons as a shear sharpener.

It is also improtant to both the stylist and the shear distributor that there is a selection of shears to choose from when calling on salons. This is why most sharpeners start with the salesman portfolio case full of shears when they begin selling shears. Bonika Shears also suggests several helpful videos that will instruct sharpeners on how to present and sell shears to the salons. There are also some great videos on shear selection we recommend to stylists.

]]>Most stylist indicate that they would trust a distributor of shears who also sharpens rather than a sharpener who also sells shears. It seems in their world that a shear distributor who has been trained by the manufacturer would be better equipped to sharpen their shears than those who are not a distributor. Also, stylists tell us that they would rather buy a shear from someone who can service that line of shears, especially if they are an authorized sharpener than to buy a shear that they would have to send off for service or warranty work.

Sharpeners who have tried introducing themselves as shear distributors who also sharpen get more sharpening business on the first call than those who go into a salon cold as a sharpener only. One sharpener at the Sharpeners Jam a number of years ago shared his positive experience of calling on salons as a shear sharpener.

It is also improtant to both the stylist and the shear distributor that there is a selection of shears to choose from when calling on salons. This is why most sharpeners start with the salesman portfolio case full of shears when they begin selling shears. Bonika Shears also suggests several helpful videos that will instruct sharpeners on how to present and sell shears to the salons. There are also some great videos on shear selection we recommend to stylists.

It is the most anticipated show of the year and one of the largest in the country. This year we at Bonika Shears look forward to the show. We are exhibitors. Do not call us for tickets. Go to the BronnerBros.com website for tickets!

Last year our company was honored with a special award from the Bronner Brothers Hair Show as an outstanding exhibitor after 20 years exhibiting at the show. This year will mark our 21st consecutive year as an exhibitor at the Bronner Brothers Hair Show and the 71st year of the Bronner Bros presenting this show.

Our booth will be near the front, #616 and will have shear sales and sharpening at our table. Please come by and greet "Mom and Pop", try out some shears and drop off your shears for professional on-site sharpening.

We are most proud the the world famous celebrity stylist Derek J will once again be offering FREE classes cutting with our Bonika Shears. He has beek called the "Stylist in Stilletos," because of the notoriety of his footwear. You have seen him in action on various TV shows and movies as well as seen his work from behind the scenes.

You will be inspired and empowered by his class "Haircutting, Fast, Easy and Fun." Be sure to schedule coming to his classes on Saturday at 4:30 PM and Sunday at 10AM, both in room 108 at the Bronner Brothers Hair Show. We will be offering some incredible deals in the class. Print out the flyer below so you can be planning your purchase. Note we take all credit cards and even offer EZPAY so everyone can afford to own the same shears that have made Derek J famous as a haircutter and a stylist.

Do you want one of these deals, but can't come to the class? Call us at Bonika Shears 770-972-4332 and we can put together something for you.

]]>The Bronner Brother's Winter Hair Show in Atlanta, GA.

It is the most anticipated show of the year and one of the largest in the country. This year we at Bonika Shears look forward to the show. We are exhibitors. Do not call us for tickets. Go to the BronnerBros.com website for tickets!

Last year our company was honored with a special award from the Bronner Brothers Hair Show as an outstanding exhibitor after 20 years exhibiting at the show. This year will mark our 21st consecutive year as an exhibitor at the Bronner Brothers Hair Show and the 71st year of the Bronner Bros presenting this show.

Our booth will be near the front, #616 and will have shear sales and sharpening at our table. Please come by and greet "Mom and Pop", try out some shears and drop off your shears for professional on-site sharpening.

We are most proud the the world famous celebrity stylist Derek J will once again be offering FREE classes cutting with our Bonika Shears. He has beek called the "Stylist in Stilletos," because of the notoriety of his footwear. You have seen him in action on various TV shows and movies as well as seen his work from behind the scenes.

You will be inspired and empowered by his class "Haircutting, Fast, Easy and Fun." Be sure to schedule coming to his classes on Saturday at 4:30 PM and Sunday at 10AM, both in room 108 at the Bronner Brothers Hair Show. We will be offering some incredible deals in the class. Print out the flyer below so you can be planning your purchase. Note we take all credit cards and even offer EZPAY so everyone can afford to own the same shears that have made Derek J famous as a haircutter and a stylist.

Do you want one of these deals, but can't come to the class? Call us at Bonika Shears 770-972-4332 and we can put together something for you.

If you have a problem with your purchase, of any kind this
is the fastest way to get your money put back on your credit card. This works
90% of the time and for the times it does not work, you would probably not get
your money back anyway.

Step 1. DO NOT contact your credit card company. The credit
card company will delay the process of getting your money put back on the card.
The credit card company will not return your money until they have given the
business in question ample time to answer your complaint. This could take
months on your part to get your money. The credit card company immediately takes
the money from the merchant and holds your money while everything is
investigated. This means no one has the money but the credit card company during
this time period.

Step 2. FIND the PHONE NUMBER of the business where you have
the dispute. The phone number is usually on your credit card listing on your
statement. You can also google the business and find the number or email very
easily.

Step 3. POLITELY call the business during business hours and
inquire about the charge or the issue. Ask to speak to the manager in charge.
You may find this is a legitimate charge and you may have caused the small
business you are working with irreparable damage if you had called the credit
card company first. Did you know that a credit card dispute that takes the
money immediately out of a small business account without warning can cause a
domino affect of bounced checks on their part? Also, if a small business gets
too many of these contested charges the credit card companies can refuse to
allow the small business to take credit cards. The credit card companies do not
tell you this. They are at no risk when they guarantee your purchases.

Step 4. State CLEARLY what you would like to have done to
rectify the problem. If a refund is in order or other steps, the small business
can immediately handle this getting the money back on your card the same day or
the corrected merchandise or service handled with alacrity.

All this is part of the GOLDEN RULE. Put yourself in the
place of the small business and give them a chance to please you and make things
right BEFORE you make that call to the credit card company.

After attempting to deal with the individual business fails,
you always have the recourse to call the credit card company. If you call the
credit card company first, it is too late to call the business and get a quick
refund.

]]>

If you have a problem with your purchase, of any kind this
is the fastest way to get your money put back on your credit card. This works
90% of the time and for the times it does not work, you would probably not get
your money back anyway.

Step 1. DO NOT contact your credit card company. The credit
card company will delay the process of getting your money put back on the card.
The credit card company will not return your money until they have given the
business in question ample time to answer your complaint. This could take
months on your part to get your money. The credit card company immediately takes
the money from the merchant and holds your money while everything is
investigated. This means no one has the money but the credit card company during
this time period.

Step 2. FIND the PHONE NUMBER of the business where you have
the dispute. The phone number is usually on your credit card listing on your
statement. You can also google the business and find the number or email very
easily.

Step 3. POLITELY call the business during business hours and
inquire about the charge or the issue. Ask to speak to the manager in charge.
You may find this is a legitimate charge and you may have caused the small
business you are working with irreparable damage if you had called the credit
card company first. Did you know that a credit card dispute that takes the
money immediately out of a small business account without warning can cause a
domino affect of bounced checks on their part? Also, if a small business gets
too many of these contested charges the credit card companies can refuse to
allow the small business to take credit cards. The credit card companies do not
tell you this. They are at no risk when they guarantee your purchases.

Step 4. State CLEARLY what you would like to have done to
rectify the problem. If a refund is in order or other steps, the small business
can immediately handle this getting the money back on your card the same day or
the corrected merchandise or service handled with alacrity.

All this is part of the GOLDEN RULE. Put yourself in the
place of the small business and give them a chance to please you and make things
right BEFORE you make that call to the credit card company.

After attempting to deal with the individual business fails,
you always have the recourse to call the credit card company. If you call the
credit card company first, it is too late to call the business and get a quick
refund.

]]>http://www.bonika.com/blog/recommendations-for-the-bonika-firefly-shear/
Fri, 17 Nov 2017 17:08:48 +0000http://www.bonika.com/blog/recommendations-for-the-bonika-firefly-shear/The Bonika Firefly is one of the most popular shears due to
it’s unique comfortable handle, light weight and slim curved blades. However,
there are some recommendations for using and maintaining this shear that will
make your experience more enjoyable.

1)The Firefly is a detail shear designed primarily
for point cutting, slide cutting, and finishing work. It is great for face
framing and for cutting in design lines for men’s parts. It is not designed for
cutting huge chunks of hair, heavy duty thick section straight cutting. It is a
secondary specialty shear that normally used in conjunction with other more all
purpose shears. The thin blades made encounter alignment issues if forced to
cut large hair sections on a continuous basis.

2)The Firefly must be adjusted differently than
other shears. The pivot screw must be tight. The adjustment should be that the
handle and blade will not drop on their own without normal cutting pressure.

3)The sharpening of the Bonika Firefly can be a
little tricky for many sharpeners. It will not void your warranty for another
sharpener to sharpen these, but if your sharpener is unsure how to do these
shears do not hesitate to send them back. You can share this video with your
sharpener on Youtube on how the screw is to be reinstalled. Proper sharpening
requires the shear to be taken apart to
work the rideline. Because of the blade width gentle convex sharpening with low
speeds and fine abrasives should be used and the two blades are sharpened at
different angles for the most effective use in cutting. If your sharpener has
any concerns he or she can contact Bonnie Megowan at Bonika Shears
770-972-4332.

]]>The Bonika Firefly is one of the most popular shears due to
it’s unique comfortable handle, light weight and slim curved blades. However,
there are some recommendations for using and maintaining this shear that will
make your experience more enjoyable.

1)The Firefly is a detail shear designed primarily
for point cutting, slide cutting, and finishing work. It is great for face
framing and for cutting in design lines for men’s parts. It is not designed for
cutting huge chunks of hair, heavy duty thick section straight cutting. It is a
secondary specialty shear that normally used in conjunction with other more all
purpose shears. The thin blades made encounter alignment issues if forced to
cut large hair sections on a continuous basis.

2)The Firefly must be adjusted differently than
other shears. The pivot screw must be tight. The adjustment should be that the
handle and blade will not drop on their own without normal cutting pressure.

3)The sharpening of the Bonika Firefly can be a
little tricky for many sharpeners. It will not void your warranty for another
sharpener to sharpen these, but if your sharpener is unsure how to do these
shears do not hesitate to send them back. You can share this video with your
sharpener on Youtube on how the screw is to be reinstalled. Proper sharpening
requires the shear to be taken apart to
work the rideline. Because of the blade width gentle convex sharpening with low
speeds and fine abrasives should be used and the two blades are sharpened at
different angles for the most effective use in cutting. If your sharpener has
any concerns he or she can contact Bonnie Megowan at Bonika Shears
770-972-4332.

]]>http://www.bonika.com/blog/holiday-shipping-for-2017/
Thu, 02 Nov 2017 15:07:41 +0000http://www.bonika.com/blog/holiday-shipping-for-2017/Please order early. Bonika Shears will be open on Friday before Christmas and will reopen Tuesday after Christmas. We will be here for sharpening and phone calls but will be counting inventory during the week so shipments may be delayed the week after Christmas.

The following FedEx Express® services will deliver on Saturday, December 23: FedEx First Overnight®, FedEx Priority Overnight®, and FedEx 2Day®. A $16 Saturday delivery fee will apply per package.

FedEx Ground will not deliver on Saturday, December 23. Check out our FedEx Ground Service Maps to determine the day-definite transit time of your FedEx Ground® shipments.

UPS

Dec 18;. This is the last day to ship UPS 3 Day Select®service for delivery before Christmas Day (delivery on Friday, Dec. 22).

Dec 20;. This is the last day to ship UPS 2nd Day Air packages for delivery before Christmas Day (delivery on Friday, Dec. 22).

Dec 21; UPS 2nd Day Air service is available for delivery before Christmas Day (delivery on Saturday, Dec. 23). Please note that these packages must be processed and labeled for Saturday Delivery. Saturday Delivery is not available to all ZIP codes. All UPS Next Day Air packages picked up today will be delivered on Friday, Dec. 22.

Dec 22; This is the last day to ship UPS Next Day Air packages to be delivered before Christmas Day (delivery on Saturday, Dec. 23). Please note that these packages must be processed and labeled for Saturday Delivery. Saturday Delivery is not available to all ZIP codes.

]]>Please order early. Bonika Shears will be open on Friday before Christmas and will reopen Tuesday after Christmas. We will be here for sharpening and phone calls but will be counting inventory during the week so shipments may be delayed the week after Christmas.

The following FedEx Express® services will deliver on Saturday, December 23: FedEx First Overnight®, FedEx Priority Overnight®, and FedEx 2Day®. A $16 Saturday delivery fee will apply per package.

FedEx Ground will not deliver on Saturday, December 23. Check out our FedEx Ground Service Maps to determine the day-definite transit time of your FedEx Ground® shipments.

UPS

Dec 18;. This is the last day to ship UPS 3 Day Select®service for delivery before Christmas Day (delivery on Friday, Dec. 22).

Dec 20;. This is the last day to ship UPS 2nd Day Air packages for delivery before Christmas Day (delivery on Friday, Dec. 22).

Dec 21; UPS 2nd Day Air service is available for delivery before Christmas Day (delivery on Saturday, Dec. 23). Please note that these packages must be processed and labeled for Saturday Delivery. Saturday Delivery is not available to all ZIP codes. All UPS Next Day Air packages picked up today will be delivered on Friday, Dec. 22.

Dec 22; This is the last day to ship UPS Next Day Air packages to be delivered before Christmas Day (delivery on Saturday, Dec. 23). Please note that these packages must be processed and labeled for Saturday Delivery. Saturday Delivery is not available to all ZIP codes.